A brown leaf caught in an autumn whirlwind pattered gently on the glass, heralding the morning in strange song. A soft ray of sunlight streamed through the thick window pane, traveling past the white painted windowsill, absurdly thick from years of annual repainting. It began to climb the wooden bed frame with inevitability. As it conquered the satin comforter and crumpled linen sheets, a hint of consciousness stirred within the man who lay motionless under them, oblivious to the illumination in his bedroom. The light continued its conquest, tracing his pointed chin, square robust jaw, and Roman nose.

With a jolt Jake awoke, the shining ray claiming its spoils. His deep turquoise eyes glittered like a tide pool at sunset as he squinted and wrestled free from its grip, finding solace under covers. There was no reason to rise from his slumber. Every day was the same. Yet he found his eyes wandering, staring straight through the window at the dull red brick wall beyond it. As he often did. His life was much like this wall. Consistent and predictable, never questioning its purpose.

He reluctantly swung the bed linens aside his body in one powerful sweep and planted his feet at the foot of the bed. He turned to the side of the bed facing the wall, finding it empty save for a luxuriously soft pillow which he had been somehow conditioned to never use, even when alone. His mood briefly soured at the thought, before a smile quickly took its place. Jake was ecstatic he was alone this morning. Seized by this newfound joy, he exuberantly sauntered into his small tiled kitchen. He reached instinctively for a clean glass from his narrow cabinet and filled it straight from the rusty tap. He put it to his lips and drank its ice cold contents. 

His eyes wandered atop his ornate rack of hanging wine glasses. Jake couldn’t recall how long ago he’d acquired the golden structure. It was never really his taste, yet he dusted each curve of its structure every Sunday regardless. He’d had it forever, so he couldn’t get rid of it after all this time, he thought. He noticed two glasses missing, then glanced at the two tall glasses in the sink, housing the dregs of the bottle at his feet. Jake’s memory of last night slammed into him. She was gorgeous, but objectively quite plain. Her laugh filled him with both familiarity and adventure. Jake leveled his eyes at the floor, hunched shoulders burying his neck into his chest. Although he was glad they had only shared wine together and went their separate ways, he knew he couldn’t see her again.

A faint buzzing sound emanated from his bedroom. He walked to the sound, finding his phone on the floor scattered among last night’s strewn wine stained button down and jeans. His expression darkened as he looked at the screen. He reluctantly raised it to his ear, answering at the last ring. A voice snapped through the speaker “Where the hell are you babe?” Said Sarah. The whites of his eyes widened as he rose his neck to stare at the ceiling, holding his breath. He responded with a deep exhale. How had he completely forgotten about brunch? He opened his mouth to speak, but he couldn’t find the words to appease her this time. “Jake? Hello?” said the voice with urgency. Finally, Jake responded, electing honestly “I’m sorry babe, I slept in. I’m on my way”. The connection cut off, secretly the response he was hoping for. Silence was always easier for Jake to navigate than the maze of Sarah’s words. He knew he should be selecting a clean shirt at a greater speed, yet he sauntered to his closet, passively fingering through his folded shirts. With a sigh, he rounded the corner of his bedroom into the hallway and opened his front door.

It was unusually warm being so far along into October. Jake strolled nearly the entire ten minute walk to the restaurant, dreading every step. If not for his gut wrenching hunger, the trajectory of his life could have changed drastically that morning, he thought. He picked up speed the last few moments of his journey, creating an air of dramatic hurriedness. Right on queue, he nearly stumbled into the woman sitting directly in front of him, her leg tapping impatiently. “Right on schedule” said Sarah, cutting through the pleasantries as she often did with him nowadays. Jake stood motionless. He knew he shouldn’t tolerate her disrespect, yet he always did. “Yes I am” he elected playfully, bracing for her reply. To his surprise, she responded “well I’m glad you had a good night’s rest, I missed you is all.” An intense guilt washed over him, his heart beating out of his chest. It had been a restful night, because he felt peaceful and relaxed around that woman. 

“I missed you too” said Jake, to his own surprise. He spoke truthfully, though lately the bad moments seemed to outweigh the good ones. In a twisted way, last night restored both a sense of confidence in himself and had him longing for his girlfriend in the other woman’s place. Sarah beckoned for him to sit next to her but he took the open chair across from her instead. He found solace in this distance from her. Since she could expertly corner him with her words, all he could do was hold his ground in defense. 

Without a reply to his gesture, she picked up the menu and began pointing out details to him. “So you’d think traditionally they’d use a roux for the sauce for this chicken dish here…” she said eagerly, fingers gracefully tracing the ingredients list so his eyes could follow along. He loved that little quirk about her. She continued, growing more passionate with every word “…but instead the chef goes with a béchamel to add depth and flavor beyond the utility of simply just holding the sauce together”.

Her explanation had suddenly put him in a good mood. “So you mean that one tastes good” he blurted, instantly regretting his unseasoned response. Usually he would try and keep up with her culinary knowledge and end up drowning. He was finished pretending he could, he thought to himself. “Yes babe, that means it will be delicious!” She said with a quiet chuckle and broad smile. Without thinking, he reached across the table, gently caressed her chin, and kissed her. “What was that for?” said Sarah sweetly, blushing. “I don’t know, I just love you” said Jake. “I love you too” she replied, a smile still plastered on her face. He wished he had gotten there sooner. Brunch was going exceptionally well, thought Jake.